TransLink looks at higher prices for park-and-ride lots

Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun06.21.2012

TransLink is considering charging parking fees at some of its free park-and-ride lots — or raising the price at others —to encourage people to take transit to SkyTrain stations or bus loops instead of driving to them. The idea, part of a study to determine how the region’s 19 park-and-ride lots can more efficiently feed into the transit network, could see prices at some lots jump substantially.

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TransLink is considering charging parking fees at some of its free park-and-ride lots — or raising the price at others —to encourage people to take transit to SkyTrain stations or bus loops instead of driving to them.

The idea, part of a study to determine how the region’s 19 park-and-ride lots can more efficiently feed into the transit network, could see prices at some lots jump substantially.

TransLink spokesman Jason Martin said no decisions on pricing have yet been made, but acknowledged TransLink could potentially partner with more parking companies, such as Impark, which now charges commuters $6 per day to park at Surrey’s King George SkyTrain station.

By comparison, the South Surrey park-and-ride lot is free, while the Scott Road park-and-ride charges commuters $3 per day. Richmond’s Bridgeport station, which has a partnership with the River Rock Casino, charges $2.50 per day.

“We’re going to look at our strategy overall for park-and-rides,” Martin said, adding there will likely continue to be a range of pricing and partnerships across the region’s park-and-ride lots.

Charging more at the lots may encourage people to take buses to SkyTrain stations or connecting bus loops, instead of driving to them, he said.

“Pricing may be the most efficient way to control demand. If a park-and-ride lot is free we might not be creating the right incentives for people to consider using transit in those areas.”

Meanwhile, TransLink is cracking down on illegal parking at the South Surrey park-and-ride, where overcrowding has prompted some drivers to park at curbs, double park, block other cars or park in such a way that prevents buses being able to manoeuvre.

TransLink has had a tow truck on the lot during this week’s morning rush hours to warn drivers that it will begin towing cars next week.

Martin said the overflow is happening even though the lot was reconfigured recently to increase the parking spaces from 425 to 481.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said the South Surrey park-and-ride has been over-capacity for the past five years, with little being done to improve the problem.

And while she supports getting people out of their cars and onto transit, she doesn’t believe commuters south of the Fraser should be penalized with higher fees because they don’t have the same transit infrastructure as some cities like Vancouver and Burnaby.

“All the park-and-rides are busy. When you have a car-dependent community because of lack of transit, you want to do everything you can to encourage people getting out of their cars and taking transit when they can,” Watts said. “Until you have an integrated transportation system you can rely on, I don’t think fees should be in place.”

Martin said the study, which is expected to be completed within the next six months, will look at where commuters are coming from and where they are parking to develop a strategy that complements the existing transit service.

It may be that some underserved areas need cheaper access to park-and-ride lots, he said, while the prices could increase at lots in transit-dense areas where people live closer to SkyTrain. Martin would not confirm whether TransLink is considering closing certain lots.

He said the increase in traffic at park- and-ride lots is a result of more people taking transit, including those who are catching buses from South Surrey or Ladner and connecting with the Canada Line at Bridgeport.

But he noted it costs TransLink $3,000 to create each parking space and $200 per year to operate it.

“It’s positive people are taking transit but we have to look at what are the value or the cost of park-and-rides,” he said. “We understand park-and-rides offer a convenience for customers but it comes at a price.

“It’s a matter of balancing how transit can support park- and-rides but park-and-rides themselves are not an overall solution.”

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said that if transit is made “inconvenient enough,” people will continue to drive.

Fees are charged at all West Coast Express station park-and-rides. But park-and-rides at Gleneagles, Westmount, Park Royal mall, Phibbs exchange, Sexsmith, Walnut Grove, Ladner exchange and south Delta exchange are all free.

ksinoski@vancouversun.com

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TransLink looks at higher prices for park-and-ride lots

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